US President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation on Wednesday from the Oval Office, five days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The president’s remarks at 8 p.m. ET are expected to be his last meaningful opportunity to address Americans and the world before leaving office at noon on Jan. 20.
He will first give a speech Monday at the State Department, where he will discuss his foreign policy legacy.
Speaking Friday from the Roosevelt Room, Biden said he did not believe withdrawing from the presidential race over the summer would help Trump win the election.
Biden stepped aside under enormous pressure from Democrats after a disastrous debate performance, and Kamala Harris ran in his place with just months to run a campaign that typically takes years to prepare.
“I think I would have beaten Trump, and I think Kamala could have…she would have beaten Trump,” he declared. “I thought it was important to unify the party. Although I believed I could win again, I thought it was better to unify the party.”
Biden indicated that he did not want to cause a divided party to lose an election, adding: “That’s why I stepped aside. But I was confident she could win.”
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters earlier Friday that Biden would reflect on his “more than 50 years as a public servant” in his Monday speech.
“He has some reflections on the future, not only of the country, but how this country moves forward as a leader, when you think about global events, important global issues, and certainly that is what he will lay out,” he said.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.
Add Comment